16 he may speak in their ears

and terrify them with warnings,

17 to turn them from wrongdoing

and keep them from pride,

18 to preserve them from the pit,

their lives from perishing by the sword.

16 Then he openeth the ears of men,

And sealeth their instruction,

17 That he may withdraw man from his purpose,

And hide pride from man.

18 He keepeth back his soul from the pit,

And his life from perishing by the sword.

16 He whispers in their ears

and terrifies them with warnings.

17 He makes them turn from doing wrong;

he keeps them from pride.

18 He protects them from the grave,

from crossing over the river of death.

16 Then He opens the ears of men,

And seals their instruction.

17 In order to turn man from his deed,

And conceal pride from man,

18 He keeps back his soul from the Pit,

And his life from perishing by the sword.

16 He speaks in their ears

and frightens them with warnings

17 to turn them away from doing wrong

and to keep them from being proud.

18 God does this to save people from death,

to keep them from dying.

16 Then he openeth the ears of men,

And sealeth their instruction,

17 That he may withdraw man from his purpose,

And hide pride from man;

18 He keepeth back his soul from the pit,

And his life from perishing by the sword.

16 Then he openeth men’s ears, and sealeth their instruction, 17 That he may withdraw man from his work, and hide pride from man. 18 He keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life from passing away by the sword.

16 he opens people’s ears 

and terrifies them with warnings. 

17 ⸤He warns them⸥ to turn away from doing ⸤wrong⸥ 

and to stop being arrogant.

18 He keeps their souls from the pit 

and their lives from crossing the River ⸤of Death⸥. 

16 He uncovers their ears at that time

and terrifies them with warnings,

17 in order to turn a person from his actions

and suppress his pride.

18 God spares his soul from the Pit,

his life from crossing the river of death.

16 then he opens their ears,

and terrifies them with warnings,

17 that he may turn them aside from their deeds,

and keep them from pride,

18 to spare their souls from the Pit,

their lives from traversing the River.

16 then he opens the ear of men,

and he frightens them with a warning

17 to turn human beings aside from their deeds,

and he keeps man from pride.

18 He spares his life from the pit

and his life from passing over the river of death.

16 He might speak in their ears.

His warnings might terrify them.

17 He warns men in order to turn them away from sinning.

He wants to keep them from being proud.

18 He wants to stop them from going down into the grave.

He doesn’t want them to be killed with swords.

16 Then He opens the ears of men,

And seals their instruction,

17 That He may turn man aside from his conduct,

And keep man from pride;

18 He keeps back his soul from the pit,

And his life from passing over into Sheol.